Pediatric critical care product wins StartUp Lehigh Valley’s Entrepreneurial Pitch Competition

Inspired by her infant’s ICU stay in 2023, AcQumen Medical founder Dori Jones began her journey to create an ultrasound-powered, non-invasive cardiac monitoring device for pediatric critical care.

“What if they had known right from the start exactly what he needed?” she asked. “What if we could give doctors a real time view inside a child’s body without ever breaking the skin?”

The device, UltraTrac, places a small ultrasound sensor on the patient’s neck and electrodes on the skin, similar to an EKG, Jones describes. It provides continuous measurements, allowing for real-time monitoring of clinical status.

“Doctors get real-time, actionable data and fragile pediatric patients stay protected,” said Jones.

StartUp Lehigh Valley, presented by Lehigh University, is a Shark Tank-style event, this year inviting six startup founders and entrepreneurs from a variety of industries to pitch their products and businesses to a panel of expert judges in front of a live audience.

Each finalist had three minutes to pitch their startup to this year’s panel of judges. The judges then had seven minutes to ask questions.

As the grand prize winner, Jones, a 2007 Lehigh mechanical engineering alumna, received $20,000 in funding from Lehigh University to grow her business. The funds, she says, will go right to their software engineers to get the cardiac input right.

“Support from StartUp Lehigh Valley will accelerate the development of our algorithms at the heart of UltraTrac, so that doctors can act faster, treat smarter, and never have to say to a parent, ‘I wish we could have done more,’” said Jones.

Other winners at this year’s competition included Lectra, named first runner up, winning $3,000 from PSECU for their wearable platform integrating AI, rehab, and real-time biometrics for continuous recovery support.

Hydron Desalination earned the $2,000 second runner up prize, sponsored by Entrepreneurship at Lehigh University, for their low-cost, proprietary method to treat and reuse produced water using liquid-liquid extraction.

Voted by viewers in the live audience and those watching at home, Sylf and its touchscreen alcohol dispensers designed for high-volume venues won $1,000 in the Audience Choice Award, sponsored by Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health.

Winning six months of direct support from Lehigh Ventures Lab was KiposTech, AI-powered, filterless air disinfection for livestock biosecurity, reducing disease and energy use.

“Through events like this, we continue to prioritize and reinvest in entrepreneurship as part of our university strategy, Inspiring the Future Makers,” said Nathan Urban, Ph.D., Lehigh University provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “StartUp Lehigh Valley exemplifies our commitment to fostering innovation and creating opportunities for impact both locally and beyond.”

The full event broadcast is available online at WFMZ.com.

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For the first time in program history, StartUp Lehigh Valley joined the excitement of Musikfest.

“Parterning with Lehigh University to bring StartUp Lehigh Valley here to Musikfest adds this element of innovation and brilliance and invites the community in in a whole new way,” said Patrick Bogan, chief programming officer at ArtsQuest.

Before the live pitches took center stage, visitors to Musikfest were able to connect with the entrepreneurs at a "Meet the Pitchers" table display event. This pre-show gathering offered a unique opportunity to engage directly with the individuals behind the innovative ventures, learn more about their products and services, and ask questions.

“Adding this event to the festival is a great way to showcase the entrepreneurial culture and academic excellence fostered by Lehigh University,” said Kassie Hilgert, President and CEO of ArtsQuest. “With visitors attending from across the country and the globe for the largest free music festival in the U.S., this is an innovative way to highlight not just great music, but great minds as well.”

In addition to Lehigh University, sponsors for StartUp Lehigh Valley included WFMZ, PSECU, Entrepreneurship at Lehigh, Lehigh Valley Health Network part of Jefferson Health, Lehigh Ventures Lab, Service Electric, and the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

‘Fest goers can join Lehigh and see innovation in action for a second time this year at the Lehigh Lounge Innovation Pop-Up at Country Club Brewing. Taking place Friday, August 8 and Saturday, August 9 from 3-7 p.m., the pop-up experience brings Lehigh's spirit of innovation to life.

Featured are showcases from Lehigh’s Design Labs, the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering, the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, and Lehigh’s Library & Technology Services—each offering hands-on activations that invite those in attendance to explore, create, and connect. Lehigh Athletics will also be on-site with fun, interactive activities.